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The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has 690 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 3 active recall campaigns.
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has 690 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 159 complaints, typically surfacing around 46,669 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Malibu | 268 | 1 |
| 2016 Malibu | 859 | 4 |
| 2017 Malibu | 720 | 1 |
| 2018 Malibu (this page) | 690 | 3 |
| 2019 Malibu | 188 | 0 |
| 2020 Malibu | 191 | 0 |
| 2021 Malibu | 78 | 1 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2018 Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: cruise control is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 54,560 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
Taking my fianc to the airport so that he can report for duty and the vehicle abruptly comes to a speed of 20mph on the highway cause a vehicle behind me to come to a close contact with my car. Replaced sensor and pedal as instructed because I am fresh out of my warranty and a…
My car randomly displayed a message on the dashboard that said "engine power reduced" traction light and check engine light appeared and it brought my speed limit to around 20 while I was on a busy street. I turned the car off and got the power back but has done it 3 more time…
In may of 2020 I took my vehicle to a Chevrolet dealership in woodbridge,va for a ECM recall on my vehicle. After waiting for them to do the recall they stated nothing was wrong with my vehicle. From october to current my vehicle has been doing everything that was stated in the…
Faulty accelerator position sensor. Part is suppose to last the life of the car. The car has 60000 miles on it. It throws the check engine light and reduces power to the vehicle at highway speeds. This is very dangerous as you cant accelerate to get out of traffic or to get…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.2 out of 10 based on 690 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Cruise-control: 68 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 44,000–72,721 mi; Brakes: 40 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 37,000–107,000 mi; Reliability score 6.2/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 159 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 46,669 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 690 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 46,669 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 159 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 46,669 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 46,669 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 690 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.